Why ARISE Exist

Abortion continues to be criminalized in India under certain sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Samhita, except when provided within the framework of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, amended in 2021. Even when abortion seekers may be eligible to undergo safe abortion services within the purview of the MTP Act (Amendment) 2021, access remains a challenge in India for certain categories of pregnant persons, largely due to stigma against the abortion seeker, and other structural barriers.

There is also a sporadic increase in anti-choice voices in the country, strengthened perhaps by a resurgence of the anti-choice movement globally, fuelled by the overturning of the decision of Supreme Court of the US, in the landmark Roe V Wade case, 50 years since.

ARISE exists to foster dialogue between advocates of SRHR, build clerical evidence, scan the abortion landscape globally and in India, positively reframe the discourse on abortion, and build support and solidarity across different rights-based social movements for advancing abortion rights and justice

A Journey of Partnership, Persistence, and Purpose.

A group of advocates of SRHR, deeply engaged in research, service delivery, advocacy and legal pursuits came together to deliberate on the evolving abortion landscape in India in 2022.

The objective was to build a common understanding of the need and urgency to unpack the prevalent laws criminalizing abortion, and discuss strategies to facilitate universal, rights-based access to safe abortion services.

Multiple, engaged discussions with diverse stakeholders crystallized the idea of forming a coalition to champion abortion as a reproductive right.

The alliance was formalized in 2023, with FPA India as the Secretariat and a core group of seven individuals and organizational representatives forming the Interim Steering Committee.